California Forward 2010 Reform Principles
Fundamental reform to make California’s government work again.
The Latest: Please stand with us. Go to www.cafwd-action.org to help show the politicians in Sacramento that Californians are demanding real change.
Our goal is fundamental change: government that's small enough to listen, big enough to tackle real problems, smart enough to spend our money wisely in good times and bad, and honest enough to be held accountable for results.
Our approach:
- Give our state’s budget and fiscal systems the overhaul they desperately need – so we finally get responsible budgets on time.
- Give the people we elect the tools to do their jobs right – and hold them accountable for results.
- And fundamentally rethink the relationship between state and local government, with a strong preference for government that’s closer – and more responsive – to the people.
Please see the California Forward 2010 Reform Principles for a summary of what we recommend, based on the feedback we have heard from people all over the state.
Our government hasn’t kept pace, and the global economic crisis has pushed our outdated methods right to the breaking point. California lacks many of the tools other states are using to better manage themselves in these challenging times.
We’re fed up with a broken government that is gridlocked by partisanship and the winner-take-all demands of narrow interests. We are fed up with politicians who spend more time fighting than solving problems, and spending too much on pet programs that don’t work while short-changing real priorities.
We need to address the real, systemic challenges that are holding our state back. The status quo isn’t acceptable anymore. It’s time to step up and address our state’s challenges head-on.
The performance of our government has fallen behind other states, which means Californians suffer – with worse educational outcomes, road conditions, health status, public safety, environmental quality, economic competitiveness and overall quality of life.
The widely respected Pew Center on the States gives California an overall grade of “C” for the way top officials manage the state. Forty one states got higher grades, six scored the same, and only two scored lower. Looking solely at fiscal performance, California earned a “D+.”
Even among the largest states – which make for the best comparisons with California – we’re at the bottom of the class. Eight of the other 10 largest states all score better, with Florida, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania all earning “B-,” and Georgia, Michigan and Texas all at the top of the class at “B+.”
The California Forward 2010 Reform Principles addresses these shortcomings, because states that get these basics right also get better results in their schools, in keeping their highways safe and in providing health care.
Download “What Difference Will it Make?” to learn more about how fixing government can improve quality of life in California.
Please stand with us. Go to www.cafwd-action.org to help show the politicians in Sacramento that Californians are demanding real change.
Letter to Legislative Leaders, May 12, 2010
Letter to Governor Schwarzenegger and Legislative Leaders, August 13, 2009
The California Forward Reform Principles
